RECORDS Who's who and What's what

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 14, 13 October 1933, Page 10

RECORDS Who's who and What's what

(By

Bolton

Woods

Records To Buy

need THIS WEEK’S SELECTION . "Ave Maria" (Schubert, arr. Wilhelmj) and "Scherzo Tarantelle" (Wieniawski), violin solos by Yehudi Menuhin. (H.M.V. DB1788). "Great is Jehovah" (Schubert) and "Knowest Thou the Lord’ (Thomas's "Mignon’), sung by Essie Ackland, contralto. (H.M.V. 02535). "Ballade No. 3 in A Flat" (Chopin, Op. 47), piano solo by Ignaz Friedman. (Col. DOX874). HERE is an insane feeling that there is something mysterious and austere about good music. That is all nonsense, of course. The best music is the best only because it is stronger. more human, more gay and amusing, more worthwhile, in fact, than the rest. -Sir Hamilton Harty.

Our Greatest Actor. [® a vote were taken as ww who was our greatest living actor (in active professional work, of course), | think that Henry Ainley would top the poll. This brilliant and talented artist is a Yorkshireman, having been born near Leeds-it does not really matter how many years ago. It is a drawback to us in New Zealand that such celebrities rarely come this far, but we have some compensation ‘in occasional! gramophone recordings. As far as Henry Ainley is concerned, these are all too few, but one of them is Cone’s "A Chant of Love for England" (H.M.V. ©2089). This vivid example of spirited patriotism will be heard from 2YA on Saturday, October 21 (Trafalgar Day), at 8.10 p.m. Don’t miss it. Dancing Virgins. LERED CORTOT explains : the idea behind Debussy’s piano solo, "Dancing Virgins of Delphi," which is so de licately played by Paderewski on an H.M.V. record (DA1249). The first in the initial volume of the great French composer’s twelve studies, "Danseuses de

Delphe" (to give it in the original French), depicts the virgins, "grave and silent, revolving to the slow rhythm of harps, zithers and flutes. In the mysterious shade of the temple, ‘in which hover the heavy vapours of ‘the

sacred perfumes, there reposes, invisible, yet present, the unknown God who meditates destinies." This gem of atmospheric piano music will be heard from 1YA on Thursday, O¢tober 19, at 8.25 p.m. Terry on Sullivan. SiR RICHARD. TERRY, writing on Sullivan, says: "He was temperamentally unable to write religious music, but his reverential habit of mind prevented his realising the fact. He was perfectly sincere in his belief that ‘The Golden Legend’ was a bigger work than ‘The Mikado’ which only proves that composers are seldom critics. "The Golden Legend’ is forgotten and ‘The Mikado’ (after nearly 50 years) is more popular than ever." "Ruddigore" embodies the same last-

ing qualities ag "The Mikado," and an excellent band arrangement of its melodies will be held from 4YA at 8 p.m. on Monday, October 16, and from 2YA at the same time on Wednesday, October 18. ‘The performers are H.M.

Coldstream Guards Band. ‘Nuff said! (H.M.V. ©2482). Many Happy Returns. ON the opposite page our "Musical Calendar" reveals the fact that next Monday will be Hermann Lohr’s sixty-first birthday. Born in Plymouth in 1872, Hermann Lohr is one of many good Britons whose names mislead unthinking listeners into imagining that they are enjoying foreign fare instead of home-made goods. .- For many years he has held a. foremost place:-among English song-writers.. Jn an age of swiftly-changing styles and fashions, his honest, straightforward melodies remain persistently popular. In duet form, Dora Labette and Norman Allin do artistic justice to Lohr’s "Two Little Irish Songs," which will be heard from 3YA on Monday, October 16, at 9.52 p.m. (Col. DO385). Born at a Concert!

THE only pupil Paganini the "wizard of the violin," ever had was Camille Sivori, who was born at one of his concerts on October 5, 1815, at Genoa. This unusual event attracted wide attention, and Paganini never missed any such opportunity to turn it to -aeccount. He told the.mother that when the child grew up he, Paganini. would teach him, for he believed a child born of a mother who became so affected by his playing that it hastened the child’s birth. must needs be a musical genius. He kept his word, and Sivori followed so closely in his master’s footsteps that folks remarked: "Like master, like pupil." A Debut at Six. IVORI was an infant prodigy in accordance with Paganini’s prophecy, and at the age of six he made his debut. At the age of ten Sivori began his series of concert tours that lasted right up to his death on February 18, 1894. The unfortunate loss of his savings prevented him from rétiring betimes from active life, for which. however, he had little inclination. Paganini wrote -his pupil a concertino and half a dozen violin sonatas with guitar, viola and ’cello. Sivori

himself composed and published several string compositions. Violinists, like other musicians, show very early promise of genius.

Infant Concert Goer. At the age of nine months Yehudi Menuhin was taken to his first concert (as his parents could not leave him at home!). . His behaviour was exemplary, and so he became thereafter a regular attendant. At two years old he showed a distinct preference for the violin, and when, a year later, he was given a toy instrument, he-promptly smashed

if, as it "didn’t sound right." When he was four a real violin was given to him, and he began lessons on it, since when he has been playing with an aptitude that is as amazing as it is satisfactory. At 3YA on Wednesday, October 18, Yehudi Menuhin will be heard at 816 in Paganini’s "Oampanella" (H.M.V. DB1638). Potted Brahms. BRAEMNS many melodies are extensively exploited by Hermann Finek in his "Brahmsiana Fantasy," which is on two supplements this month. On Columbia the arranger and his orchestra have made a most successful record of this latest potpourri (DOX3877), while the London Philharmonic Orchestra also present the medley in first-rate style (H.M.V, C2555). Model for Choirs. yet another choral record that will stand to serve as an excellent pattern for church choirs in our country is published this month by Columbia. A few years ago Dr. Sydney H. Nichol-

son, organist at Westminster Abbey, resigned from that post to take in hand a big work in the shape of organising the Church Music Association. The choir of the School of BHnglish . Church Music, under Dr. Nicholson, issues its first recording of "Parish Psalter" pointing that should be 34 revelation to choral enthusiasts. In Psalms 29, 138, 121 and 23 the choir is heard in unaccompanied singing of a pointing that deserves to become universal, Chants for the two first psalms are by Attwood and Goss, and Turle’s settings are used for the two last number. (Col. DO949.) Drugs and Drink. OUSSORGSKY had a very sad life, enjoying very little to compensate him for labour he lavished upon the rich legacy of music which he left to Russia. This clever composer abandoned a career in the army to devote himself to music, but was soon obliged to accept a Government clerkship. Losing this employment, the greater part of his life was spent amid sordid surroundings, and toward the last he wrecked himself by the use of drugs and stimulants. One glance at the portrait of this unhappy genius reveals the whole story.

A Pampered Flea, F all his sixty songs theré is none more popular with Hnglish-speak-ing people than "The Song of the Flea," that pungently, satirical ballad which describes the story of the king who kept a flea ag a pampered favourite. This lively ditty, together with Tschaikowsky’s "To the Forest" (Pilgrim’s Son) has been recorded by the Ameriean baritone, Lawrence Tibbett, an‘l appears in the October list of H.M.V. records (DB1945). Adrian Boult Marries. ROM "The British Musician" the following account (in part) of the wedding of Dr. Adrian Boult, the conductor of the B.BC. Symphony Orchestra, is reproduced. It appears bis bride was Mrs. Ann Wilson, daughter of Captain F. A. R.. Bowles, R.N., of Dully House, Tonge, near Sittingbourne, Kent. There was no best man ov bridesmaid. The bridegroom wore u blue lounge suit, and his wife wore blue from hat to shoes. There was no public intimation of the ceremony ; indeed, the wedding (like the very circumstance that Dr. Boult was to be -married at all) was kept secret from all but relations and a few excepticnally close intimates. There was no family breakfast, even: instead, there was a sandwich picnic on the Downs.